Separately driven window and side brushes on common frame

Claim 2

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and second control means responsive to potential of energy at said motor means above a predetermined level to thereupon maintain coupling of said source to said motor means independent of said first control means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein: said first and second control means are monostable.

Claim 4

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and mounting arm means having a distal end portion swingable in a generally horizontal plane, said first cleaning member being mounted to said arm means at said distal end portion; a second vehicle-cleaning member mounted to said distal end portion below said first cleaning member; second drive motor means coupled to said energy source and to said second cleaning member and continuously driving said second cleaning member, both when said first cleaning member is driven and when said first cleaning member is at rest; said first cleaning member including a first brush rotatable on a first axis on said arm, said second cleaning member including a generally circular second brush rotatable on a second axis on said arm, said second axis being generally vertical, and said first axis extending upwardly and inwardly toward the center of said path at an angle between three and 30* with respect to vertical.

Claim 5

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and mounting arm means having a distal end portion swingable in a generally horizontal plane, said first cleaning member being mounted to said arm means at said distal end portion; a second vehicle-cleaning member mounted to said distal end portion below said first cleaning member; second drive motor means coupled to said energy source and to said second cleaning member and continuously driving said second cleaning member, both when said first cleaning member is driven and when said first cleaning member is at rest; said first cleaning member including a first brush rotatable on a first axis on said arm, said second cleaning member including a generally circular second brush rotatable on a second axis on said arm, said second axis being generally vertical, and said first axis extending upwardly and inwardly toward the center of said path at an angle between three and 30* with respect to vertical.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 wherein: said first cleaning brush is at the elevation of automobile side windows and said second cleaning brush is at the elevation of automobile body and fender sides.

Claim 7

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and said first cleaning member being a brush; said drive motor means being a hydraulic motor; said sensor means including a wand disposed in the path of a vehicle windshield; said energy source being a hydraulic fluid pressure supply; and said first control means including a first control valve coupled to said supply and to said motor and to said wand, said first valve being a pilot-operated, spring-return two-position valve having a first position blocking the flow of fluid from said supply to said motor; said first control means further comprising an air switch connected to said wand and to an air supply, said switch being opErable when actuated by movement of said wand by a vehicle windshield to apply air from said air supply to the pilot of said first valve to move said valve to a second position connecting said hydraulic fluid supply to said motor.

Claim 8

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and said first cleaning member being a brush; said drive motor means being a hydraulic motor; said sensor means including a wand disposed in the path of a vehicle windshield; said energy source being a hydraulic fluid pressure supply; and said first control means including a first control valve coupled to said supply and to said motor and to said wand, said first valve being a pilot-operated, spring-return two-position valve having a first position blocking the flow of fluid from said supply to said motor; said first control means further comprising an air switch connected to said wand and to an air supply, said switch being opErable when actuated by movement of said wand by a vehicle windshield to apply air from said air supply to the pilot of said first valve to move said valve to a second position connecting said hydraulic fluid supply to said motor.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5, said control means further comprising: an OR gate between said switch and said pilot and having a first input from said switch and a first output to said pilot, and a second input, said gate being responsive to introduction of air to either of said inputs to convey the introduced air to said output thereof; a second air switch connected to said air supply; a spring-loaded actuator responsive to pressure above a predetermined level at said motor to actuate said second air switch, said second air switch being operable, when actuated, to apply air to said second input of said OR gate for application from said output thereof to said pilot, to thereby continue brush drive independent of said wand so long as pressure at said motor remains above said level.

Claim 10

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and a mount; an arm pivotally connected to said mount and having said cleaning member thereon; reversible actuator means connected to said mount and to said arm; biasing means coupled to said source and normally applying potential from said source to said actuator means to keep said cleaning member at the side of said vehicle path; and trigger means coupled to said biasing means and responsive to attainment by the vehicle on the path of a predetermined position with respect to said cleaning member, to thereupon initiate reversal of said actuator means and urge said cleaning member toward the center of said path.

Claim 11

The combination comprising: a first vehicle-cleaning member; drive motor means coupled to said cleaning member; sensor means associated with the path of a vehicle body portion; a source of energy for said motor means; first control means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to activation thereof by said vehicle body portion to couple said source to said motor means to drive said cleaning member; and a mount; an arm pivotally connected to said mount and having said cleaning member thereon; reversible actuator means connected to said mount and to said arm; biasing means coupled to said source and normally applying potential from said source to said actuator means to keep said cleaning member at the side of said vehicle path; and trigger means coupled to said biasing means and responsive to attainment by the vehicle on the path of a predetermined position with respect to said cleaning member, to thereupon initiate reversal of said actuator means and urge said cleaning member toward the center of said path.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 wherein: said actuator means include a hydraulically operable rotary actuator; said biasing means includes: a first directional valve having first and second positions and normally stable in said first position coupling hydraulic fluid from said source through a first check valve to a retract port of said actuation to keep said cleaning member at the side of said path, and having a second position coupling hydraulic fluid from said retract port through a first speed control in parallel with said check valve to a low-pressure line, a pressure regulator coupling fluid from said source at a reduced pressure through a second check valve to an advance port of said actuator to continuously urge said cleaning member toward the center of said path, a second speed control being provided in parallel with said second check valve; a first air switch coupled to an air supply and normally venting an operating pilot of said first valve, and having a pilot operable when pressurized to place said switch in a second condition pressurizing the pilot of said first valve to move said valve to said second position; a second air switch coupled to said air supply and to the pilot of said first switch and responsive to attainment, by said cleaning member, of a predetermined position in said vehicle path to vent the pilot of said first switch; said trigger means including an air bleed hose coupled to said air supply and to the operating pilot of a third air switch coupled to said air supply and through a third check valve to the pilot of said first air switch, said hose being deformable by the vehicle tire rolling across it to sufficiently pressurize the pilot of said third switch to place said third switch in a second switched condition pressurizing the pilot of said first switch, to enable said actuator to move said cleaning meMber toward the center of said path.